Silver and celluloid decorative comb. Mystery origin.

I don't think so either, it would have been clearly marked, and Spratling didn't do many hammered pieces.
I just referred to Spratling for the style, because he introduced the use of Maya designs to Mexican jewellery making. I have looked through the holes to see the back of the silver, but can't find a mark anywhere.

As yet I don't know for sure it is Mexican, those Dutch Art Nouveau/Symbolist and Art Deco designers made some very imaginative things, often inspired by Javanese/Indonesian art.
I even thought of Baltic symbolism. In the late 19th and early 20th century ancient Baltic culture became extremely important for the Baltic nations in their attempts to free themselves from Russian culture. And they had very good silversmiths. Haven't found anything like this in Baltic designs, though.
I just don't know yet, I'm still open to ideas. The Mexican one sounds plausible.

 

The continuing story of the comb.

That was easy. I gently put my nail under the silver on one side, and the silver came loose almost immediately. Just a few threads of glue on the other side, a little jerk, and it came off. Thank you man in shed!
@kyratango I included the comb I selected from my box as a replacement in the picture below, same curve as the silver. Original comb on the left:


Turns out there are marks on the back, but I don't recognize them as Mexican. Maker's mark ED:


And a mystery mark, does anyone recognize it?


Same mark:

 

AJ! what a luck to find a suitable comb in your box
Sorry, I can't decipher the mark... nearly looks like a scorpio to me, but not sure

 

SOS or SCS?

 

Consulted my little book of Mexican silver etc, there are Mexican marks SCS and ED, but not at all like these marks. I already thought so, but best to be sure. It is not a type of mark I recognize.
There is a little extension to the mark on the right of the letters, if that's what they are. Maybe from a Q? Or a branch of a floral mark?

Could be an SOS which magically appeared when the silver plaque saw the man in the shed with his glue gun.

 

The ED looks put on with one of those vibrating engraving tools. Initials of the guy in the shed with the glue gun?

 

As a response to the SOS? As in, that'll teach it to send out an SOS!

 

Response from the Emergency Department?

 

Now why didn't I think of that, that explains it all!
Don't you love vintage items with a history?

 

The 'ED' is rocker-engraved (wriggle-work), and I'd think probably original to the piece - my eyesight is so bad anymore, can't really make anything out of the other marks, though I seem to see some letters. Would also suspect South American origin...

~Cheryl

 

Thanks, Cheryl. I don't think any of us can make something of the other mark. And it is about as small as a French mark, I only saw it through a loupe.